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Haofa, a rare indigenous dog breed from Manipur’s Ukhrul district, is gaining national recognition for its loyalty and hunting skills. Once vital to the Tangkhul tribe, the pure strain survives in Phungcham village. Assam Rifles has begun training Haofas for service. Scientists from Imphal’s agriculture college have documented the breed and applied for national listing with NBAGR, aiming to preserve this cultural and genetic treasure.

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00:00Hofu is an indigenous dog breed from the Tankol region, valued for its sharp hunting instincts and loyalty.
00:09Once a vital companion for Tankol hunters, each Hofu was given a unique name and trained accordingly.
00:16Among the Tankols, two types of Hofu are commonly recognized.
00:21A smaller breed used for hunting small game and a larger one with a short bluish-black coat,
00:27long muzzle and broad jaws, resembling a bear.
00:34The Hofu, popularly known as Hofu, is an indigenous canine breed of the Tankol community.
00:40It is found only in this area and nowhere else in the Northeast.
00:47Hofu is considered as a guard dog and a good hunting dog.
00:54It possesses a good sense of smell and that is why it is being demanded in every quarters.
01:01The population of purebred Hofu is steadily declining, making it increasingly rare to find dogs of original lineage.
01:09However, the authentic strain is carefully preserved in Fungchum village of Ukral district,
01:16where dedicated breeders take immense pride in safeguarding the breed's genetic purity.
01:22For the local community, Hofu is more than a dog.
01:26It is a living symbol of their cultural heritage.
01:29Interest in the breed is on the rise.
01:31And notably, the Asam Rifles have begun procuring Hofu dogs for their dog training center in Jorhat, Asam.
01:39Recognizing their exceptional abilities and potential for service.
01:44To promote the native Hofu breed of Ukral, a team from Nagoya,
02:12breed of Ukral, a team from the Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture,
02:17Impal visited Fungcham village for breed assessment and documentation.
02:24Their findings were submitted for national level recognition, with an official application
02:29sent to the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources in Haryana.
02:34Hofu's revival reflects a deeper movement to preserve heritage, culture and indigenous
02:40biodiversity for future generations.

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